SNYDER: With Becky Hammon, champion Spurs keep cutting unique path

WNBA star Becky Hammon takes questions from the media at the San Antonio Spurs practice facility after being introduced as an assistant coach with the team on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2014 in San Antonio. Hammon became the first woman to ... more >

Overseas, the Spurs were at the forefront of international scouting, among the first organizations to capitalize on the vast, untapped potential in foreign talent. San Antonio broke its own record last season by employing 10 players born outside the U.S. The Spurs even made waves on the coaching staff last month, adding European legend Ettore Messina.

On the court, Popovich has built a well-oiled system that works beautifully with interchangeable parts. He was fined by former commissioner David Stern two years ago for sending four of the Spurs’ top five scorers home before a nationally televised game in Miami; the Heat needed a late 3-pointer to eke out a narrow victory.

At the negotiating table, San Antonio has found a way to keep its Big Three happy and intact for more than 13 years. Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobli have signed multiple contracts to their liking, while the team reserved enough money for a solid supporting cast at a reasonable price, creating a culture of “we’re-all-in-this-together.”

There wasn’t much more the Spurs could do to separate themselves from fellow NBA teams … unless you’re talking about winning more championships.

But like it or not, the franchise moved further from the pack Tuesday when it added Becky Hammon to the staff, making her the first female full-time assistant coach in NBA history.

It would be fantastic if we could look at Hammon’s credentials as a six-time WNBA All-Star and consider nothing else. Clearly she’s got game, named one of the league’s all-time Top 15 players in 2011, ranking fourth in assists, sixth in games and seventh in points on the career lists.

Surely that’s all Pop took into account. You sense that he would hire the first Martian assistant coach if it helped the cause. He didn’t mention Hammon’s gender in a press release because it’s irrelevant to him.

“Having observed her working with our team this past season, I’m confident her basketball IQ, work ethic and interpersonal skills will be a great benefit to the Spurs,” he said in a statement.

But the rest of us can’t ignore Hammon’s sex or its significance. Anyone who has daughters (I have two) understands how empowering this is for girls, who often question why boys have more options.

For instance, they can coach both leagues. The WNBA has six males among its 12 head coaches and eight males among its 24 assistants. They can coach men’s and women’s college basketball. They can coach boys’ and girls’ high school basketball. They can coach boys’ and girls’ youth teams.

But females pretty much are restricted to coaching other females … if they’re allowed to coach at all.

Hammon, a 16-year veteran, is retiring from the WNBA at the end of this season. In pondering life after basketball, she talked with her coach, Dan Hughes of the San Antonio Stars. Hughes informed Pop that Hammon, a fan favorite in San Antonio since 2007, might be interested in coaching.

About the Author

Deron Snyder is an award-winning journalist and Washington Times sports columnist with more than 25 years of experience. He has worked at USA Today and his column was syndicated in Gannett’s 80-plus newspapers from 2000-2009, appearing in The Arizona Republic, The Indianapolis Star, The Detroit News and many others. Follow Deron on Twitter @DeronSnyder or email him at deronwashtimes@gmail.com.